Area of research:
Other
Job description:
The Research Institute for Sustainability at GFZ (RIFS) conducts research with the aim of investigating, identifying, and advancing development pathways for transformation processes towards sustainability in Germany and abroad. The institute was founded in 2009 as the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) and has been affiliated with the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences under its new name since the 1st of January 2023 and is thus part of the Helmholtz Association.
For our research group Systemic Risks, we are looking for a:
Reference Number 10871
We are recruiting a PhD candidate to examine the societal implications of Enhanced Silicate Weathering (ESW) as a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategy. The position is embedded in the RESET project ("Developing Roadmaps to Scalable Carbon Dioxide Removal by Enhanced Silicate Weathering"), which is part of the BMFTR-funded consortium CDRTerra. RESET brings together three closely linked PhD positions to explore ESW from natural science and social science perspectives.
Enhanced Silicate Weathering (ESW) involves applying finely ground reactive (ultra)mafic minerals to agricultural soils to permanently remove atmospheric CO₂. ESW is considered a promising large-scale CDR option due to its long-term storage potential and comparatively low cost. RESET investigates both the opportunities and challenges of deploying ESW at scale and aims to co-develop potential implementation pathways together with stakeholders.
We are looking for a motivated PhD student to research the societal implications of ESW. The successful candidate will map systemic interdependencies in terms of potential trade-offs and synergies in the implementation of ESW, as well as implement stakeholder participation processes and co-creation processes for scaling strategies of ESW.
Your responsibilities:
* Identifying relevant stakeholder groups at local, regional, and national levels
* Identifying and analysing stakeholder groups' needs in implementing ESW and their socio-economic and institutional scope for action
* Mapping systemic interdependencies using causal loop diagrams (e.g., impacts on agriculture, biodiversity, and land/resource use)
* Identifying trade-offs (e.g., competing uses of basalt flour) and synergies (e.g., crop yield increases, reduced waste streams), including assessment of related uncertainties
* Organising stakeholder workshops and conducting interviews
* Contributing to communication and dissemination activities related to the project
* Participating in and helping to organise scientific conferences
* Producing scientific outputs, e.g., project reports, policy briefs, journal publications, and conference presentations
Your qualifications:
* Completed academic university education, master's degree from an academic university or an accredited master's degree from a university of applied sciences in the fields of social sciences, political science, or sociology
* Knowledge in the areas of stakeholder analysis, institutional and governance analysis, policy analysis, risk research, and systems analysis methods
* Experience in stakeholder participation
* Experience in writing academic publications, research reports, and policy briefs
* A high degree of initiative, creativity, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively
* Fluency in written and spoken English; German language skills are an advantage, but not required
What we offer:
* Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment
* State-of-the-art equipment
* Public service benefits
* Extensive training opportunities
* Professional career advice offered by our in-house Career-Centre
* Flexible working hours and conditions
* Support with finding a good work-life balance offered by benefit@work
* Institute day-care centre on site
Start date : As soon as possible
Fixed-term: 3 years
Salary: The position is classed as salary group 13 according to “TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost)”. The salary group is determined on the basis of the Collective Wage Agreement and the respective personal qualifications.
Working hours : Part-time 75% (currently 29.25 h/week)
Place of work: Potsdam
Have we piqued your interest?
If so, we look forward to receiving your application by 3rd December 2025 .
Required documents: CV, letter of motivation, certificates/grades
Desirable documents: references
Please use our online application form only.
Diversity and equal opportunities are integral components of our human resources policy. The RIFS actively promotes diversity and explicitly welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of ethnic and social origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation and identity, religion/belief, age and physical characteristics. Anyone who has been recognised as severely disabled will be given preferential consideration in the event of equal suitability and qualification in accordance with the provisions of the German Social Code IX. For any further queries regarding gender equality, please do not hesitate to contact our Equal Opportunities Officer.
‘Diversity in perspectives’ is a high value for us. As an integral part of supporting diversity at our centre, we actively promote women in science and in leadership positions. We, among others, do this through our gender equality plan and the cascade model measures, which we actively implement to enable sustainable equal opportunities in academic career paths. We are thus committedly strives for gender equality in science, including in leadership positions, and strongly encourages women to apply.
Your personal data will be processed for the purpose of conducting the selection procedure on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 b, Art. 88 GDPR in conjunction with Art. 26 of the Data Protection Act for the State of Brandenburg. After the procedure is completed, the application documents will be deleted in compliance with data protection regulations.
In case of any further queries relating to the field of activity, please contact Dr. Pia-Johanna Schweizer via email. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number +49 (0) 331-6264-28787.
This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.
Company
The Helmholtz Association contributes to solving major challenges to assure the future of our society. With more than 47.500 people on staff in 18 national Research Centers and an annual budget of more than 6 billion euros, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organization. The name Helmholtz stands for concerted research, in which networks form the key principle behind inquiring thought and action.
The profile of the Helmholtz Association
The Helmholtz Association performs cutting-edge research which contributes substantially to solving the grand challenges of science, society and industry. To succeed in meeting these responsibilities, Helmholtz concentrates its work in six research fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Information, Matter, as well as Aeronautics, Space and Transport. Within each of these fields, research programs are developed by our scientists and regularly evaluated by renowned international experts. Their evaluation forms the basis for the program-oriented funding that is allocated to Helmholtz research. Within the six research fields, Helmholtz scientists cooperate with each other and with external partners – working across disciplinary, organizational and national borders.
Moreover, Helmholtz specializes in large-scale research infrastructures – from accelerator facilities, earth observation satellites, research ships to supercomputers. They form the basis for scientific advances in tackling global societal challenges. Managing national research infrastructure is part of the Helmholtz Association's mission.
Promoting young academics
Helmholtz scientists, a high-performance infrastructure and modern and efficient research management are the ingredients to the Helmholtz Association‘s success and global impact.
Promoting young researchers is a major priority for the Helmholtz Association. Its qualification schemes for young researchers are geared mainly towards PhD students, postdocs and young managers. The Helmholtz Association has set high standards for its talent management. Its strategy begins with targeted recruitment of highly qualified staff at all levels, followed by comprehensive support aimed at further developing their potential. Ensuring equal opportunities is an essential element in all talent management activities undertaken by the Helmholtz Association.
The Helmholtz Graduate Schools and Research Schools at almost all Helmholtz Centers provide doctoral students with the general and specific skills and training they need, as well as ample opportunity to network. The period following a doctorate is decisive in determining the direction and success of a scientific career. For this reason, we established Career Development Centers for postdoctoral researchers in the Helmholtz Centers. This equips young researchers with the skills they need to go on to head a Helmholtz Investigator Group, for example. As an Investigator Group leader, junior scientists can independently set up their own group to conduct research in their specialist field and acquire management skills.
Within its talent management strategy, the Helmholtz Association pays special attention to the increased recruitment of talented female scientists both from Germany and abroad. To this end, there are currently two funding programs supporting this policy: and Helmholtz Distinguished Professorship – Funding for the recruitment of leading international female scientists (W3) .
The increasing complexity of the content, structures and framework conditions of scientific work today requires researchers to organize their projects, their employees and, of course, themselves in a highly professional and effective way. In response to these demands, we have set up the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to provide leaders in science with professional management training. Furthermore, the Helmholtz network provides a platform for the alumni of the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to come together and share their experiences of leadership, career development and lifelong learning.
All of this combined makes the 18 Research Centers of the Helmholtz Association a highly attractive environment for talented researchers from all over the world.
Company info
Telephone
0049-30-206329-0
Location
Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str. 2
Berlin
Berlin
10178
Germany